Rumour: NBN 1000/50 250/25 super fast new speeds launch late May 2020 for FTTP and HFC

NBN and Australia’s internet service providers are working out the final details so that new NBN super fast 1000/50 250/25 plans can be available for some residential home customers by late May 2020 – that’s just a few weeks time!

Prices for these new plans aren’t available yet, but they will obviously be higher than the new NBN Wholesale prices (ex GST) which we’ve got here:

There’s a lot of details in this plan table, but the key things to look at are the new 250/x and 1000/50 plans – who wouldn’t want a gigabit download plan? At an $80 wholesale price, you might see that sold to consumers for anywhere between $100 – $250 ish, but it’s purely a guess.

Which NBN Connection Types will get top speed?

If you’re lucky enough to have an NBN FTTP (fibre to the premises) connection you’ll be able to signup for a sweet 1000/50 or 250/25 high speed download speed plan as soon as those plans are available from retailers.

If you have an NBN HFC (Hybrid Fibre Co-Axial) connection you’ll eventually have access to 1000/50 and 250/25 as well, but not at the end of May.

According to the CEO of Aussie Broadband these two new faster 1000/50 and 250/25 plans:

“… will be released onto some of the HFC network and the foot print availability will grow with time. Around 800,000 HFC premises are expected day one”.

If you have a NBN FTTC (Fibre to the Curb) connection you won’t have access to the 1000/50 and 250/25 plans (or any above 100 Mbps) at first, but there is hope you’ll be able to signup to these plans in the future because your copper line length is so short. This will most likely require the fibre-to-the-curb device which lives in the pit outside your house to be upgraded, but once that’s done, FTTC connections should be able to reach these super-fast speeds, too.

If you have a NBN FTTN (Fibre to the Node) connection unfortunately you have little hope of ever getting access to connection speeds faster than 100 Mbps. In fact many FTTN customers are lucky to get even that much with copper line lengths to the node often so long that a maximum connection speed of only 20-50 Mbps is possible.

If you’re upset about that, well … we’re sorry. While the Labor government’s proposal of near-universal Fibre to the Premises might’ve been unworkable, the policy adopted by the Liberal/National government of a “multi technology mix” means we’ve got a messed up broadband network that delivers lightning speed to some, and paltry 20th century internet to others.

Your current NBN Provider may not offer the highest speeds

However you weren’t able to get higher than 100 Mbps NBN speeds with some of the bigger NBN providers like Telstra and Optus. Only some retailers opted to make these plans available.

Smaller – and we would say more innovative – providers like Aussie Broadband have offered higher than 100 Mbps plans for years. In fact I tested one of these plans a year ago and my plan changer already offers up to 250/25.

It was recently revealed that Aussie Broadband had attracted over half the NBN customers who have signed up for a 250 mbps NBN connection. Unsurprising, given how few of their competitors deigned to offer these plans.

FTTN, HFC and FTTP customers can choose to signup for one of the new 100/20 NBN plans right now (FTTN only if your copper line supports that speed) with Aussie Broadband or Superloop.

NBN Enterprise customers can get 1000/400

Aussie Broadband has also recently enabled its Enterprise Business NBN plans to allow connections at up to 1000/400 speeds. Nice … if you can afford it.

Your thoughts?

What do you think of the new NBN 1000/50 and 250/25 plans for FTTP and HFC customers? Let us know in the comments how much would you be willing to pay for them.

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i cant see gigabit being any less than $250 a month for residential. The cost of the CVC makes it unworkable unless they provide a crap service. I wish the upload rate was better though seems like a waste of time when the people who need GBit plans are also the ones that will more than likely need fast upload too. 50mbit is barely better than the 100/40 plans, although on hfc you are lucky to regularly get 38mbit due to the contention ratio problems.

They won’t get any sales for $250/mo. MyRepublic did it for $129/mo. ABB will overcharge, they’re a premium provider. $99 isn’t impossible, and even if it’s nowhere near gigabit in the evenings, it might still be worth getting. $120/mo is about as much you can charge and have any hope of mass market appeal.

Even 100/40 is a bit of a niche market. The only way it wouldn’t be is if there were no speed tiers as some people will always just go for the cheapest available regardless of performance.

0

Ted Smith

19 days ago

Pointless. 5G is eventually is going to take over for us who have only FTTN. Oops Australia government didn’t really think about that.

-4

Grant Uebergang

23 days ago

I’m on 100/40 and the uploads are so so important. Over the lockdown 2 parents, 3 kids and 2 nest security camera’s all online.

250/25 is a BIG step backwards, it makes no sense dropping everyones speed for HFC. If the government wanted consistency across platforms, maybe role out the same platform, don’t do it in the plans and please stop penalising the creatives amount us.

1

raph

25 days ago

Where does FttB fit in?

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Peter

29 days ago

This is what happens when you vote for left wing dud governments like Labor, you get dud internet service!

I would just be happy with an nbn connection 4555 QLD still have a 512/256k ADSL connection. Its horrid contacted telcos nbn an ombudsmen an thats within spec. Cmon its 2020 so should !y connection be

0

John Wisse

30 days ago

NBN ……. living 32km from the centre of Brisbane, 500 meters from the Bruce highway and no NBN yet. We bought this property 3 years ago and where told by Telstra it had NBN. Had to change plan before settling and moving in. Then discovering no NBN!!! Big fight with Telstra to revert to our old contract what was changed only because they told us it was NBN!!
currently we have 12 download and 0.46 upload!!!!!!
It’s an absolute joke!!!!

i wish they had just gone with a basic $20 AVC then cost per gig download and unlimited speed, that way everyone could enjoy the fast speed up and down and the high unlimited download plans would subsidize the people who only wanted 5gig a month download .

I agree. But AVC will probably need to be at least equal to or higher than ADSL charges that were paid to Telstra back in the days. Charging download/upload is a reasonable way to ensure user pays system works.

0

tariq

1 month ago

I have a fttp connection would telstra be offering anything higher then 100mbps service? Im currently paying for the 100mbps speed boost and getting 95 down and 35 up

That’s upto Telstra but so far they haven’t offered home NBN users any speeds higher than 100

Suggest you research Aussie Broadband and other providers that have a track record of offering higher speeds for NBN FTTP users

2

Tim

1 month ago

5G is a bit of a joke when you understand the range and how much infrastructure is required and understand that on a good day you’ll get 100 metres, a rainy day next to none and the only way these 5G works is with repeaters lots and lots just for cities and towns as for country and regional areas not a blooming hope due to the distances involved as it would require a ridiculous amount of repeater towers. The good thing about 5G is better pictures and instant 1 millisecond response time for a call or download. 4G and 3G… Read more »

Yes personally I think 5G is an unimportant feature for the next few years and people are more likely to buy cheaper mid range 4G phones during an economic catastrophe

Australia has some of the world’s best 4G networks already, they’ll serve us well

2

Leo H

1 month ago

1000/50?

Just give me a stable fixed wireless connection without periods of slowdown or high jitter which can sustain an upload speed of 20 and a reasonable download speed and I’ll be happy.

0

Brendan

1 month ago

My understanding of 250/25 and 100/20 is that analysis of consumption show for streamers that’s fine. But video conferencing and gaming higher uploads are needed.

Given Covert-19 and everybody working from home where they can; I would want NBN co to double check there uploads calculations cos frankly the world has changed.
I have FTTP and can’t wait for new plans. If they can do 1000/50 for $120 I am there; $150 Probably can’t justify. 250/25 hmm tempting but am I going to choke on 25 uplink (currently on 100/40)?

Thank you, this is exactly what I came to the comment section to point out. Why is this misinformed opinion being peddled in the article? Shame on the author.

FTTP is the only viable long term solution. All other technologies will simply have to be ripped out and replaced with fibre long term anyway, so why not get it done now? It’s far more economical to do it all at once rather than have to dig again and again – this is where the bulk to the cost is.

Shame on this editor for not making it obvious that it wasn’t your statement.

93% FTTP coverage isn’t and wasn’t “unworkable”, though perhaps that description should have been “expensive” – and from what we know now about the cost of FTTN/C establishment, not much more expensive than what we got. That’s ignoring the cost to eventually replace FTTN with FTTC or FTTP when sub-100Mbps speeds are considered un-usable – and it will only be a few years until the complaints are numerous.

4

Dan Gray

1 month ago

Thinking that prices will have to drop once 5G speeds pick up. Otherwise NBN will lose business, guessing that is 2 years away though.

2

John

1 month ago

There’s pointers in this story about FTTP, FTTN, FTTC, and HFC connections. Whats the low down with FTTB ? Is FTTB same as FTTN, or same as FTTC since short copper line only.

It depends on the building. Older buildings would have aging copper, bad connections and wires installed in a manner that makes it impossible to replace. Newer buildings would be done in a manner that allows a bad connection to be easily fixed. Newer buildings would also be done in a manner that would allow the copper to be removed and replaced with fibre, essentially transforming the FTTB into FTTP.

FTTN – Fibre to a ~300 port DSLAM “node cabinet” down the street (and maybe around the corner) from your residence. Copper cable, up to 1000m long, from it to your house. FTTB – Fibre to a DSLAM in the “Basement” (MDF) of your MDU. Copper from it to your dwelling – presumably less than 200m to any residence. FTTC – Fibre to a 4-port DSLAM (“DPU”) in a pit or on a telephone pole outside your house, at the “curb.” Copper from there to inside your house, presumably no more than 100m. All the above were rolled out using… Read more »

0

Wojtek

1 month ago

Just love the NBN ads promoting 100/40 speeds and showing a family enjoying their streaming in multiple devices…. then I remember I’m on FTTN and can only get 50Mbit on a lucky day…..

this is not true, if nbn offer 1000/400 at the price point of 50/20, I guess majority will go for this plan. why they cannot? because nbn is not done correctly.

1

ASHUR JACOB

1 month ago

What a stupid approach 😠😤, leaving millions of disadvantaged Australian’s even more disadvantaged and giving those who already in a better position even more options, I only call that discrimination and only because the NBN is hopeless and they can not do better, very disappointed to support the coalition, next election I will be voting for the idiots they might make better decisions 😉

-1

sujayv

1 month ago

Instead of devising plans that cater to a minority (FTTP), NBNCo should be concentrating on moving FTTN customers to FTTP or FTTC as the bare minimum. I have FTTN and the maximum I will ever get is 53Mbps. With 2 university students and all the streaming services we use, I would like to get at least 100Mbps download. Personally, 40Mbps upload (or close to it) is enough for my family. Alas, I live in a 1st world country with a 3rd world broadband service.

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David Harwin

1 month ago

Good download speeds, but why is the upload so low? As a gamer and user of video conferencing – upload speeds are still important.

True, they are, but 25mbps – 50mbps is more than enough for current technology video confing, games, etc. Any more is mostly unnecessary … but that’s by today’s standards. It mightn’t be tomorrow.

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John

1 month ago

FTTC, FTTN, fixed wireless and satellite users cannot get this even if they are willing to pay. Seems short sighted rolling out the MTM to save on upfront capital expenditure at the cost of future cash flow.

Would be great, if you have FTTP!
Most of us are stuck on FTTN and cannot even get 50 mb/second. Surely focus needs to be on getting everyone on NBN. Then FTTP and then take advantage of possibilities.

1

Christopher Watson

1 month ago

What I don’t get is the upload speeds… I have 100/40, but would be disappointed at 250/25… Seems almost a step backwards. Would expect at least 50 or pref 100 up.

That’s certainly one reason, but they’re offering near gigabit for HFC, which is definitely different to the FTTP offering. The other reason is to differentiate the 1000/400 speed and offer it at a premium. NBNco still dream of that high RPU.

I did my bit by not voting for Turnbull and his National BS Network. Unfortunately, he did get elected and now I am stuck with FTTN. The only hope I have is that NBNCo will wake up one day in the not too distant future and start migrating FTTN customers to FTTP.

Note “might” have been unworkable, for reasons of cost, delay, whatever. We’re trying to be balanced, not taking a particular view.

Labor’s FTTP would undoubtedly have delivered better broadband to more people. Whether it would’ve done so on time, within budget, or anything else … that’s debatable .. but I’m not sure I care. Even at twice the build price, a national fibre network would be priceless.

“We’re trying to be balanced, not taking a particular view.”
Unfortunately Chris that is where journalism has been failing the public over the last 15 years. In an effort to be seen to provide a balanced view your profession is providing ongoing life to falsehoods and misrepresentations which have been debunked, and do not represent the weight and consensus of expert opinions on the matter.
A more balanced or neutral tone would have been to acknowledge labours plan had issues, where’s to say it might have been unworkable advances the Coalition’s false narrative on the matter.

Like i’ve said on this article already: If you vote for left wing dud governments then you get dud internet. I find it saddening that I have to repeat myself. The NBN should have been a wireless model from day 1 and should have been done by extending the existing Telstra network and building more mobile phone towers which would make more sense considering most people access the internet from a MOBILE wireless device. This would have been cheaper on taxpayers and the end paying customer. 5G technology is at our doorstep, making our NBN infrastructure obsolete already and the… Read more »

If you are relying completely on a wireless solution what’s your strategy for large concurrent bandwidth needs? While I am no fan of any government or the NBN, a completely wireless solution does not meet every use case. 5G might be on our door step but how does an almost ready technology today help us roll out the program in the past? Nothing is ever as simple as a single solution, especially a large country wide infrastructure program. Terrestrial lines simply provide more bandwidth. The air can only hold so much spectrum, you can chuck an extra cable in the… Read more »

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